Ski binding



Feb. 2, 1965 o, MoLlNo 3,168,326

SKI BFNDING Filed May 10. 1963 Fig] 2 Ea- -VQFTQ' 2 United States Patent() 3,168,326 SKI BINDING Ottavio Molino, Via Vibo 41, Turin, Italy Filed May 1i), 1963, Ser. No. 279,545 2 Claims. (Cl. 28011.35)

This invention relates to ski bindings of the safety or release type adapted to free the skiers foot when the torque transmitted by the foot to the ski or axial tension of the traction cable exceeds given limits.

Ski bindings are known which release the skiers foot on torque stresses only by means of devices generally arranged on the abutment adapted to abut the front edge of the ski boot sole or, alternatively, on axial traction stresses only by means of devices which are generally arranged on the binding cable tensioning means.

For safety against excessive torque stresses (skier falling to one side) or traction stresses (skier falling to the front) it was heretofore necessary to employ both means mentioned above on one binding.

This invention provides a safety binding by which the skiers foot is freed upon torque or axial traction stresses reaching dangerous limits by means of one safety device arranged on the front abutment.

With the above and further purposes in view the invention provides a ski binding comprising a front abutment engaging the front boot sole portion and means pushing the boot towards the front abutment wherein the latter comprises two similar levers fulcrumed to one pivot which extends perpendicular and is secured to the top ski face, retaining means for the boot sole tip symmetrically arranged at the ends of said levers and resilient means adapted to fold the levers on each other by an adjustable force which opposes the stresses by the boot tip on the levers tending to unfold the latter, unfolding of one or both levers freeing the skiers foot.

Further characteristic features and advantages of this invention will appear from the appended detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment thereof.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a ski binding,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE l,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on line III-III of FIGURE l.

A ski 1 is fastened by a binding to a boot 2.

The boot sole forwardly abuts a front abutment generally denoted by 3 against which it is urged by the action of a cable 19 associated with a tensioning device operating in a known manner, which is not shown on the drawing.

The front abutment 3 comprises two similar levers 4 and 5 fulcrumed scissors-like intermediate their length to one pivot 1i). The pivot 10 is secured and extends perpendicular to a plate 11 which is attached to the top face of the ski 1.

The levers 4 and 5 are formed with two symmetrical projections 6 and 7 extending from the inclined side surfaces 8 and 9, adapted to engage the free upper portion of the shoe sole tip.

The inclined side surfaces 8 and 9 of the levers 4 and 5 converge towards the pivot axis when the levers are in their folded condition.

The boot 2 is axially urged against the abovementioned side surfaces of the levers 4 and 5 by the action of the tensioning device acting on the cable 19.

The portions of levers 4 and 5 situated on the other 3,168,326 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 side of the pivot axis with respect to the shoe tip have surfaces facing each other which lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis, the lever 4 having bored therethrough at this portion a hole 20 receiving a ball 12 projecting in part from said 'hole towards the other lever 5, the opposite hole end being tapped to engage a screw 14.

A coiled spring 13 bears at its ends on the ball 12 and screw 14, respectively. The lever 5 includes a part spherical notch 21 which is in register with the hole 20 in .the folded condition of the levers 4 and 5.

The levers 4 and 5 are provided with extensions 17 and 18, respectively, cooperating with a stationary stop 16 carried by the plate 11 in order to stop rotation of the levers towards their folded condition at a position corresponding to normal use of the binding which is indicated in full lines in FIGURE 2.

The stop 16 correctly positions the two levers of the front abutment during normal use of the binding.

The ball 12 is urged by spring 13 into the notch 21 and holds the levers 4 and 5 folded on each other by a force depending upon pre-stressing of the spring 13 controlled by screw 14.

A torque stress from the boot 2 on the ski 1 tends to unfold one lever against the action of the stabilizing torque main-taining the levers in a folded condition, which is proportional to stressing of the spring 13.

The force by the boot sole along the ski axis on the inclined side surfaces 8 and 9 on the levers 4 and 5 develops on said surfaces, more particularly at their portions receiving pressure from the shoe sole, two forces which, by virtue of the inclination of surfaces 8 and 9, set up in both levers 4 and 5 torques with respect tor the rotational axis of the levers, which tend to unfold the levers against the action of the stabilizing torque.

When the torque stress or the torque ensuing from the axial force of the boot 2 is high enough to overcome the stabilizing moment from the levers 4 and 5, one lever or both levers unfold, thereby freeing the skiers foot.

In order to facilitate release the levers 4 and 5 are each provided on their inclined side surfaces with a rolling member 4a and 5a, respectively, which is abutted by the `front edge of the sole.

By selecting the arm length of levers 4 and 5 and the inclination of their side surfaces 8 and 9 the torque and axial force effecting release can be correctly proportioned.

By adjusting the prestress of spring 13 the above stresses can be main-tained below dangerous limits. Y

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with reference to the drawing, modifications of constructional details are possible, such as articulation of the levers acting as a front abutment at their ends opposi-te the shoe instead of intermediate their length.

What I claim is:

1. In a ski-binding including a front abutment engaging the front edge of a ski boot sole portion and a means urging the boot against said front abutment, said front abutment comprising two similar levers fulcrumed to a common pivot situated intermediate the lever ends and perpendicularly secured to the top ski face, retaining means for the boot sole tip arranged on the ends of said levers against which the boot is resiliently urged, both levers including portions situated on the other side of the pivot axis with respect to the boot sole tip, said portions having surfaces facing each other which lie in planes substantially perpendicular` to the pivot axis and resilient means accommodated by "said lever portions adapted to hold the levers in a folded positionby an adjustable'force which opposes the stress by the boot sole tip on the levers tending to unfold the latter, unfolding of at least one lever releasing the skiers foot.

2. Ski-binding as claimed in claim l, whereinthe resilient means comprises a ball extending in part fromrthe end of a partly tapped hole bored through one lever, a coil spring bearing at its ends on said ball and on a screw, respectively, wherein saidl screw is engaged by Ithe tapping in the hole, and a part spherical notch in the other lever, which notch `is in register with the tapped hole in the' folded condition of .the levers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 8/50 France. 1 l/ 58 Italy.

A. HARRY LEVY, Examiner. 

1. IN A SKI-BINDING INCLUDING A FRONT ABUTMENT ENGAGEING THE FRONT EDGE OF A SKI BOOT SOLE PORTION AND A MEANS URGING THE BOOT AGAINST SAID FRONT ABUTMENT, SAID FRONT ABUTMENT COMPRISING TWO SIMILAR LEVERS FULCRUMED TO A COMM,ON PIVOT SITUATED INTERMEDIATE THE LEVER ENDS AND PERPENDICULARLY SECURED TO THE TOP SKI FACE, RETAINING MEANS FOR THE BOOT SOLE TIP ARRANGED ON THE ENDS OF SAID LEVERS AGAINST WHICH THE BOOT IS RESILIENTLY URGED, BOTH LEVERS INCLUDING PORTION SITUATED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PIVOT AXIS WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOT SOLE TIP, SAID PORTIONS HAVING SURFACES FACING EACH OTHER WHICH LIE IN PLANES SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE PIVOT AXIS AND RESILIENT MEANS ACCOMMODATED BY SAID LEVER PORTION ADAPTED TO HOLD THE LEVERS IN A FOLDED POSITION BY AN ADJUSTABLE FORC WHICH OPPOSES THE STRESS BY THE BOOT SOLE TIP ON THE LEVERS TENDING TO UNFOLD THE LATTER, UNFOLDING OF AT LEAST ONE LEVER RELEASING THE SKIER''S FOOT. 